Customers rally around beaten jeweler

Friday

Feb 15, 2013 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - His customers - friends and fans, really - know him simply as Leo. He's the owner of Leo's Jewelers on Pacific Avenue who was tied up and beaten by three men during a brazen daylight robbery Monday afternoon.

Joe Goldeen

STOCKTON - His customers - friends and fans, really - know him simply as Leo. He's the owner of Leo's Jewelers on Pacific Avenue who was tied up and beaten by three men during a brazen daylight robbery Monday afternoon.

The Record is withholding his full name and location while Stockton police continue to search for the suspects. Meanwhile, Leo, 63, is recuperating from a serious blow to his head and possible concussion, along with cuts to his face that did not require stitches. He is out of the hospital after two days and, according to friends who visited him this week, in good spirits.

"He's not only a jeweler, he's really our friend," said Sandie Lohsen, a Burson resident who was brought to tears when she learned of the robbery and assault.

"Those men not only hurt him, they did a discredit to the whole community," said Sandie Lohsen's husband, Bill, referring to Leo's reputation as an efficient, honest and respectable business owner who goes out of his way to help customers.

To date, what police have released is that around 2:50 p.m. Monday, three men wearing ski masks and carrying hammers managed to get through two locked security doors and take over the store, tying up Leo and assaulting him while they took an undetermined amount of jewelry from several glass cases. One suspect possibly had a gun, police reported. The three men fled when a customer entered the store.

The store is in a small strip mall hidden from Pacific Avenue by O'Reilly Auto Parts. A worker at a nearby business described the immediate area as "pretty safe." Numerous customers reported the jewelry store has a video surveillance system and everyone has to be buzzed through both front doors by Leo to get into the store.

The first store anyone can remember Leo owning in Stockton was next to the site of the former Kmart on Pacific and Robinhood Drive. When that was torn down to make way for Stonecreek Village, Leo reopened at 4110 N. El Dorado St.

In August 1996, two armed men entered his jewelry store intent on robbery. That store had a locked security door as well. A gunbattle ensued with five to 12 shots being fired by Leo and the suspects, according to a Record story at the time, citing police and witnesses. Leo was shot five times and reportedly still carries a slug in his abdomen from that incident. Earlier that same year, another Stockton jeweler, Vuth Hong, 35, was shot and killed at his home by robbers seeking access to his March Lane store.

Bill Lohsen said Leo is no stranger to violence. A native of Vietnam, he was shot by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Leo returns to his homeland every two years, Lohsen said.

The Lohsens travel to Stockton regularly just to see Leo's latest jewelry creations using gold, silver, diamonds and gemstones, or have him repair their jewelry. The couple, married 47 years this week, have done business with Leo for 15 years and become quite close to him. They said he had customers from all over the country who would ship jewelry to him for repairs.

While the Lohsens talked about Leo this week in front of his closed store at 6360 Pacific Ave. - scheduled to reopen Monday at 10 a.m. - at least half a dozen customers drove up either because they were unaware of the robbery or wanted to check on their friend.

Maria Handy, 25, came by to have her wedding ring sized.

"He's the only one who has good online reviews around Stockton," said the newlywed who indicated she had never met Leo but had talked with him by phone hours before the robbery. "Everything was fine. I'm glad he's OK now," said Handy, indicating she would return when Leo is back in his store.

Marci Valverde of Stockton stopped by to pick up a repair. "He's such a good man. He gets referrals from other stores for fixing watches. He's always so pleasant and fair," Valverde said.

Longtime Stockton jeweler Scott Hoag with Annette's Fine Jewelry on Pacific Avenue said hardly a day goes by that he doesn't make a referral to Leo's Jewelers.

"Leo's about as reputable as you can get. He's straight up and fair. You couldn't ask for a nicer person. We ask customers for at least 24 hours on repairs. Leo does it right now, while you wait. People also go to him for Asian-style jewelry," Hoag said, adding: "I never liked his location."